Germicidal detergent composition



United States Patent G 3,069,358 GERMICIDAL DETERGENT COMPOSITION JackBlodinger, Monsey, N.Y., assignor to American Cyanamid Company, NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of Maine No Drawing. Filed Mar. 26, 1958, Ser.No. 723,942 1 Claim. (Cl. 252107) This invention relates to a germicidaldetergent composition containing hexachlorophene.

Hexachlorophene [2,2' methylenebis( 3,4,6 trichlorophenol)] is awell-known germicidal agent and has been used in soaps and various soappreparations. It is known that hexachlorophene is practically insolublein water. It can be dissolved by the use of strong alkali resulting insolutions having a pH well above pH 9. Hexachlorophene can also bedissolved by the addition to soaps which have a pH above about 9. Asolution of such high alkalinity, however, has a deleterious effect onthe skin and frequent washings with such germicidal soaps or solutionscan cause severe irritation of the skin.

It would be highly desirable to be able to prepare a germicidaldetergent composition containing hexachlorophene in solution which wouldhave a pH near that of the body, that is a pH of about S-7, butheretofore this has not been possible because hexachlorophene is notsoluble at such relatively low hydrogen ion concentrations.

I have now discovered a Way of preparing germicidal detergentcompositions containing hexachlorophene in solution at a desirably lowpH of about -7 and in which the hexachlorophene is rendered soluble bythe addition thereto of a certain specific class of nonionic surfaceactive agents.

In carrying out the present invention, hexachlorophene is firstdissolved in a nonionic surface active agent of the type described moreparticularly hereinafter. Preferably the hexachlorophene is dissolved inthe nonionic detergent by heating at a temperature of from about 50 to70 C. The resulting clear solution is then diluted with water to thedesired concentration. A stable, germicidal solution is obtained whichis stable even after adjusting the pH to between about 5'-7 ifnecessary. The hexachlorophene is usually present to the extent ofbetween about /2 and 5% by weight.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to incorporate asmall amount of the antibiotic known as neomycin (cf. United Statespatent to Waksman No. 2,799,620) into the detergent composition. Thenonionic surface active agent apparently renders the neomycin compatiblewith such solutions and prevents precipitation of the neomycin whichnormally occurs in such compositions when the pH is around neutrality.Usually a small amount, from about 0.1 to about 3%, of neomycin sufiicesfor purposes of obtaining the additional bacteriostatic effect.

Among the suitable anionic detergents are the watersoluble higher fattyacid soaps (e.g. sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium salts of higher fattyacids derived from coconut oil, palm oil and tallow), and the sulfatedand sulfonated organic detergents. Examples of the latter arewater-soluble salts of higher alkyl aryl sulfonate (e.g. sodiumdodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium laurylbenzenesulfonate), higher alkylsulfate detergent (e.g. sodium lauryl sulfate, potassium cetyl sulfate,triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, diethanolamine lauryl sulfate andammonium lauryl sulfate), sulfuric acid esters of polyhydric alcoholsincompletely esterified with higher fatty acids (e.g. sodium coconutmonoglyceride monosulfate), sulfated higher fatty acid amides (e.g.sodium lauric monoethanolamide sulfate), etc. The anionic detergent isadded for the purpose of increasing the detergency of the ICC formula:

CaHry-(O 011,011,) .on

and wherein n is from 6-30, and the nonylphenoxypolyoxyethylenecompounds sold under the trademark Igepal and corresponding to theformula:

ogmwgwomonnnon wherein n is from 6-30. The nonionic surface active agentis usually employed in an amount ranging from about 1 to 40% by weight.

The invention will be described in greater detail in conjunction withthe following specific examples in which the parts are by Weight unlessotherwise specified.

Example 1 A germicidal detergent composition is prepared'by dissolvingfive parts of hexachlorophene in 10 parts by volume of Triton X-l00(reaction product of 9-10 moles of ethylene oxide with octylphenol) withheating at 60 to C. The resulting clear solution is added to parts byvolume of water with stirring. A clear solution results and shows nochange on standing for long periods of time at 5 C.

Example 2 A germicidal detergent composition is prepared by dissolving0.15 part of neomycin sulfate in 40 parts by volume of water. 5 parts ofhexachlorophene are dissolved in 10 parts by volume of Triton X400. Thehexachlorophene solution is added to the neomycin solution and 10 partsby volume of Triton X-l14 (reaction product of 7-8 moles of ethyleneoxide with octylphenol) are added along with 2.5 parts of Lanogel 41 (awatersoluble derivative of lanolin) and 20 parts by volume oftriethanolamine lauryl sulfate. Distilled water is added to bring thevolume up to 100 parts. A clear sparkling yellow solution with a pH of5.5 is obtained. The resulting solution is stable as to the neomycin andhexachlorophene for a period of at least one year at a temperature of 25C. and for two months at 42 C. or for one week at 56 C.

Example 3 A germicidal detergent composition is prepared as in Example 2except that Triton X-114 is omitted. A storage stable composition isobtained.

Example 4 A germicidal detergent composition is prepared as in Example 2except that Triton X-100 is omitted. A storage stable detergentcomposition is obtained.

Example 5 A germicidal detergent composition is prepared as in Example 2except that 8 parts of Igepal CO-710 (nonylphenoxypolyoxyethylene) isused in place of the Triton X-100 used in Example 2. A storage stablecomposition is obtained.

I claim:

A germicidal detergent composition consisting essentially of from about1 to about 40% of a nonionic surface from about 0.1 to about 3% of atherapeutically effective,

form of neornycin, and suflicient Water to total 100%, the resultingcomposition having a pH of between about 5 and about 7, and beingstorage stable for at least about a year at 25 C.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,303,932 Guild Dec. 1, 1942 2,484,784 Craige et a1 Oct. 11, 19492,865,859 Lubowe Dec. 23, 1958 2,880,130 Johnson Mar. 31, 1959 2,880,138Johnson Mar. 31, 1959 2,942,008 Lubowe June 21, 1960 2,961,375 Shaw Nov.22, 1960 2,968,628 Reed Ian. 17, 1961 2,975,099 Goyan et al Mar. 14,1961 2,979,410 Parlour Apr. 11, 1961 3,029,188 Cyr et al. Apr. 10, 1962FOREIGN PATENTS 761,269 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1956 OTHER REFERENCESNNR, New and Nonofiicial Remedies, 1955, Lippincott Co., Philadelphia,Pa., p. 71.

American Drug Index, Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, Pa. (1956), p. 380.

Antarox A200, Antara Products, General Aniline and Film Corp. New York(1950), 6 p. brochure, p. 6 relied upon.

Gregg et al.: J.A.P.A., Sci. Ed., vol. 40, Solubility and BacterialStudies of Hexachlorophene, August 1951, pp. 390 et seq.

Traub: Arch. Dermatol. and SyphiloL, vol. 52, 1945, p. 385.

Dale: J.A.P.A., Prac. Pharm. Ed., July 1957, Compatibility of NeomycinSulfate, pp. 421-425.

Protosil: J.A.P.A. Prac. Pharm. Ed., August 1956, p. 547.

